• Zelenskyy claims the US is pressuring Ukraine for concessions without demanding similar from Russia.
• The upcoming negotiations in Geneva are crucial for resolving ongoing conflicts between Ukraine and Russia.
• Zelenskyy calls for enhanced support from allies, including sanctions and military aid.
• Land disputes remain a major contention point between the negotiating parties.
• Zelenskyy emphasizes that clear security guarantees are essential for lasting peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns at the annual Munich Security Conference, stating that the United States often pressures Ukraine to make concessions in the negotiations with Russia, while not holding Russia accountable for similar compromises. "The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia," he remarked, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach in the upcoming talks set to take place in Geneva next week, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

Zelenskyy is hopeful the discussions involving Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations will prove fruitful, highlighting the absence of European parties from the negotiations as a significant oversight. "Europe is practically not present at the table. It’s a big mistake, to my mind," he said, focusing on the necessity of including regional allies to foster a more comprehensive peace agreement, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Negotiations have been ongoing since early 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with a notable resistance from Ukraine to concede further territory. Zelenskyy noted that the core issue remains land disputes, particularly regarding Russia's demands for Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region which Moscow has yet to fully seize. He remains firm that any discussions about territorial concessions must be reciprocal, reflecting the concerns of both parties involved in the talks, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

Moreover, Zelenskyy pressed for clearer security guarantees from Western allies, asserting that "peace can only be built on clear security guarantees." He warned that the absence of these assurances may lead to further conflict in the future, showing the urgency in solidifying commitments from partners such as the United States. He also pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not only accept a ceasefire but also engage in exchanges for prisoners of war, with estimates revealing substantial numbers of captured soldiers on both sides, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

Zelenskyy remains determined that the upcoming negotiations must evolve past previous rounds which he described as unproductive. He viewed the recent change in Russia's negotiating team as a potential tactic to stall meaningful dialogue, stating that "it suggested to me that Russia wanted to delay any decisions from being agreed." The switch to Vladimir Medinsky leading the delegation was met with skepticism from Ukrainian officials who previously criticized his negotiation style as ineffective, which has further complicated the peace discussion landscape, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.